There was a time when football-mad gamers were split into two distinct camps. You were either a diehard fan of Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) series or a dedicated follower of EA’s FIFA franchise (now known as EA Sports FC).
This status quo remained in place until the late aughts when, following some strategic wins, FIFA started to outpace its main rival. By the early 2020s, PES was a shadow of its former self after a tragic rebrand, leaving just one option for virtual football lovers.
However, EA’s monopoly could be challenged by a new contender. It’s called UFL and has some serious talent in its corner, including the game’s ambassador (and the GOAT, depending on who you ask) Cristiano Ronaldo.
After a couple of beta periods that gave players a taste of the new game, UFL’s relatively untested developer Strikerz Inc. has now revealed its release date. The title will arrive on September 12 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles.
But is it making the same mistake as Pro-Evo? Indeed, UFL is a free-to-play game like Konami’s lambasted successor to PES, eFootball.
Despite propelling games like Fortnite and Candy Crush into blockbuster territory, the freemium model has received its fair share of pushback from players.
Its critics claim the monetisation strategy drives developers to put profits over player enjoyment. They argue that free-to-play games can feel exploitative by creating an uneven playing field designed to extract money from players, including vulnerable groups like children.
Some view these games as inferior to traditional premium titles, which require a one-time purchase to access the full game.
For its part, EA has successfully added microtransactions to its footy champion while sticking to the premium format. When it lands on September 27, EA Sports FC 25 will be available to buy outright for £60. It will offer an Ultimate Team mode that lets you buy packs of player cards for real money.
Still, at least the free-to-play approach means you can give UFL a go without paying a penny. If you’re keen to play, however, you can pay £12 for a pre-order bundle that gives you access to the game a week early (and some coin to spend on players).
As for what you can expect, UFL promises to be more of an on-pitch football simulation like EA Sports FC rather than a coaching sim like Football Manager. The game’s main mode is essentially an online league with a division-based matchmaking system. You can build your team like EA’s Ultimate Team, customising your club’s branding and tactics.
Other modes include 2v2 and 3v3, online matches with friends, casual offline play, and custom tournaments. Plus, there will be the usual assortment of in-game missions and challenges to complete.
Ronaldo isn’t the only superstar in the game’s corner. Roberto Firmino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Romelu Lukaku, and Kevin De Bruyne have all been tapped as UFL ambassadors.
Although we doubt it can match the expansive breadth of EA’s licensing deals with players and leagues, Strikerz claims to have struck partnerships with several notable clubs. They include Scotland’s Rangers and Celtic, the Premier League’s West Ham United, and Ligue 1’s AS Monaco, among others.
With FIFA plotting its footy title after parting ways with EA in 2022, UFL better be quick out of the gates if it wants to secure a position in players’ line-ups.
